, 1887-12-07


giving undue preference 10y oren rates are
still frequent, and In existing tartns ther"
are many rates which, AS compared with
others, made 10y .he same carriers.
seem to he unfair and Oppressive"
Being now compelled tu justify their
rates when called on the commission finds
managers more cautious about doing in'
Justice. On the subject of complaint the
report says that IN the tnnjOrity of Casps
the complaint has been found to I've
mistaken IN facts, or II wrong, II has been
through the carelessIlpss or mistake of the
agent, which the carrier readily corrected,
7 he commission urges the desitability Ol
uniform freight clussiiicaiinns Throughout
the country, but duubls the ability to reach
the uiutter hy legislation, Will" without 1t
there is gradual approach to uniformity
The oinniission says "rhe pooling OF
freighs and Of railroad earnings so far as
the commission has knowledge or iniornIa.
tiOn on the subject came to an end when
the act took effect, but Ms pooling was only
one Of several purposes In view IN form.
ing railroad associations, the teaching as
suciuiiohs have not been dissolved but
have been confined in existence Tor
other objects" Among the obi rcts are the
making of regulations for uninterrupted
and harmonious railroad communication
aud exchange OF traffic within the bound
arv embraced 10y their workings Some
regulations in addition to those made by
sible. Thus while the 7lh section oi the act
lorbIds carriers from prevent ting ship
lnelts from being continuous by the device
Uf changing time schedules. carriage In
different cars, etc, IL has not undertaken
to provide for the making uf such tine
schedule us would furnish continuous ship
nlent or prescribe rules for loading of cars
for that purpose.
In the chapter upon reasonable charges
the coinuiss ion says 'Of the duties de-
volying on the commission by the act to
regulate commerce noue is more rcrpleXiug
aud difficult than that Of passing on con-.
plants made OF rates as being unreasona-
BILE. The question of reasonabeneas oi
rates involves 50 many con sidpratiuiIs, aud
is affected by so luany circumstances aud
Conditions, that 1t Is quite impossible to
deal with 1t on purely mathematical Irin-
ciples. study of the act to regulate com
merce has satisfied the commission that il
was intended in its passage to preserve to
the people the benefits of competition as
between st 'eral transportation lines. II it
shall be done the towns which have great
natural advantages, or advantages acquired
py large expenditures OF money in estab-
lishing new thoroughfares of commerce
Will have cheaper rates than can be OBJ
tanned by towns less favorably situated"
Ihe commission finds that the operation
OF the law has In general been beneficial,
that u tends to increase railroad earnings
while the tendency of rates has been down
ward. These facts are attributed to the in
crease in the movement of materials in
duced by iaith in the stability and fairness
Of the charges. On the subject of
amendments to the law the report saws:
The commission has not seen OCCASION
Tor recommending any very considerable
changes IN the act under which its work is
performed. The general features of The act
are founded on principles that will stand
the test OF time and experience. In this
report the same need of ainendmennt has
been pointed ont, the act should specially
Indicate in plain terms whether the express
business and all other carriers business
should he governed by the provisions
PROVISION against sudden raising of rates
ought TO be clearly made applicable to
JOINT rates as well aS to Others The COM
mission ought also to have authority to
DrinS about unaniinity of method in pub
iish'hg rates, and to carefully examine, coll
lect, ana supervise the schedules, contracts,
etc required by law to be filed. as well as
property to be handle. A uIass OF statistical
information is called Tor by the Goth Sec
ton. Other matters, aud particularly
whether transportation by water shall be
made subject to tae act, are submitted to
congress without recon- aiendation.
MUCH SURPRISED.
The officials OF the department of state
are at loss 10 account for the feeling that
appears to have arisen in Mexico as the
result OF the discussion OF the Cutting case.
1t Is said that the subject has been present
ed TO the Mexican goyerninen in accordance
with the forms OF international law, with
view to the settlement of extra territorial
jurisdiction, and not with any intent of
endeavoring to enforce vexatious claims in
voluntary manner. AS matter of fact |
there has been no new presentation OF |
Cuttings claim against the Mexican gov.
ernment; no fixed money indemnity has
been demanded, and nothing has been said |
that would in the judgment of the depart.
between the two countries.
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS,
The Republican members Of the house of |
held the first caucus of the |
season this afternoon. OF the Republican
OF l53 members III were in at |
None of the four independent
nemhers but were present. Conner OF Ill.
ind McComas, OF Maryland, were respect.
yely reelected chairman and secretary OF |
.he caucus. Mckinley OF Ohio nominated |
rhos b Reed of Maine, for speaker and the
nomination was confirmed by acclanation.
Reed made briefspeech in which he coun.
'elled party harmony and predicted Re-
publican victory in the next presidential
election,
Nominations for the officers at the next
house were then made as follows: Edmond |
MCPHERSON of Pa, by Representative Boyre,
or clerk; Daniel Shepard OF Ills, by |
Adams, for eearjeant at arms w. T. Fitch |
of Ohio, by Butterworth, for dooIkeeper;
Chas III. Green of Oak. by Nelson for |
and Thomas w Thomas'o of Ind, |
by Browne, for chaplain. These nomina-
lions were agreed to. Mr.. Thomas nomin- |
ited for chaplain, is minister of society |
Of Friends and is well known in the west |
as the Quaker preacher" Only incidental |
mention was made of the tariff and no at |
tempt was made to authorize u policy.